Despite initial opposition from the county planning staff because of environmental concerns, South Corp., a Miami developer, received permission to begin the development of a golf course community on preserved wetlands in Estero.

Cypress Shadows, a 770-home gated community, will be developed on 351 acres of south Florida wetlands. Lee County’s hearing examiner and planning staff dropped their opposition and voiced their support of the development of the private community after South Corp. gave up their request for blasting to carve a lake, lowered the heights of proposed buildings, and limited the depth of the lake to 20 feet.

Environmental concerns such as impacts to groundwater and local wildlife were initially expressed. South Corp. representatives continued negotiations with the county and eventually an environmental resources permit was obtained.

In presenting their case to the Lee County Hearing Examiner, South Corp. attorneys said that the South Florida Water Management District, via the environmental resources permit, deemed the environmental impacts of the private community acceptable.

In a hearing with the hearing examiner, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida also voiced concerns about the new golf course community. Nocturnal animals inhabit the area and would be disturbed by many new sources of light at night. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida called for a lighting plan that would not disturb these animals on the western third of the property that will remain wetland preserves and will neighbor the private community.

Developers agreed upon a plan to restrict light trespassing into preserve areas and neighboring properties. The county planner said this was the first case he had seen where commissioners had set any condition for the trespassing of light within a developer’s own property.

Verbal agreement in the hearing was not sufficient for commissioners, written documentation of the agreement was demanded of the developers.

The gated community will consist of 100 single-family homes and 670 multi-family unites will be built on the 351 acres east of Interstate 75.